Oxidative damage in urban bumblebees

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Cities are stressful environments in several senses of the word for wild animals, including being linked to an increased risk for oxidative stress – the imbalance between pro- and antioxidants. Several factors such as air pollutants can cause this detrimental state, but studies documenting urbanization’s effect on arthropod physiology are scarce. Here, we measured the oxidative damage and antioxidant capacity of wild bumblebees (Bombus terrestris and B. lapidarius), in and outside of a city. We found increased oxidative damage across both species in urban sites but no discernible response in terms of antioxidants. Our results show that urban environments can directly and detrimentally impact arthropod physiology. Moreover, the lack of antioxidant response on the individual level opens the question of the colony-wide outcome of urban oxidative stress in bumblebees.
Period2024 mars 14
EvenemangstitelNordic Oikos 2024: New perspectives in ecological and evolutionary research
Typ av evenemangKonferens
PlatsLund, SverigeVisa på karta